Straydog954 Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 Broke the rear rear axle shaft in my RD. What is the procedure just remove the old one and try to fish out any pieces of metal and slide new one in? Does the diff have to come out to be inspected? Is it ok to source a new axle from a salvage yard or should I buy OEM or aftermarket or what? Any advice is much appreciated thank you Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey Mack Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 Well, you really need to pull the gear sets out. There will be chunks laying in the bottom. Where did the shaft snap? Did you drive a long time with it broken? I will post more after you post answers, pics of the axle will help, salvage yard axle just needs to be checked, look for sharp splines.. 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-551251 Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeH Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 Depends where it broke. Out at the hub or in at the differential? If it broke by the hub you should be fine to pull the pieces and shove a new axle in. Note the differential sits off to the right on Camelback suspension so the axle shafts are different lengths left vs right. Also the spline count and axle thickness can vary depending on your specs, so I'd just go to the dealer for one most likely. My dad used to score the axleshafts a little out by the hub. Then my older brothers moved on to other careers and now we don't have to score our axles anymore. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-551268 Share on other sites More sharing options...
terry Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 1 hour ago, JoeH said: Depends where it broke. Out at the hub or in at the differential? If it broke by the hub you should be fine to pull the pieces and shove a new axle in. Note the differential sits off to the right on Camelback suspension so the axle shafts are different lengths left vs right. Also the spline count and axle thickness can vary depending on your specs, so I'd just go to the dealer for one most likely. My dad used to score the axleshafts a little out by the hub. Then my older brothers moved on to other careers and now we don't have to score our axles anymore. Wise ole dad there! 😂 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-551272 Share on other sites More sharing options...
70mackMB Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 2 hours ago, JoeH said: My dad used to score the axleshafts a little out by the hub. Then my older brothers moved on to other careers and now we don't have to score our axles anymore. WTH! The one and only axle l ever broke (25yrs ago) was scored by the hub. Mechanic popped the hub and lassoed the shaft with a piece of wire. Dragged the bottom of the axle housing with half a large washer wielded on a small rod. Cleaned all the unauthorized pieces out and installed the new axle and l was on my way. Still have the damn axle in my garage as a reminder of what not to do again. I don't know if they still score their axles or not since l moved along also Joe. lol .....Hippy Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-551279 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straydog954 Posted May 8 Author Share Posted May 8 It broke at the diff end so I def need to pull the rear out ? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-551291 Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeH Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 Not sure how you're gonna get the splined piece out of the differential without pulling it... That's a pain. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-551292 Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeH Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 My one brother managed to break an axle on our dm686SX!!! Those shafts are thick!! He was starting out on a hill, and decided he would use the parking brake to hold the truck while he got the clutch ready. Only he misjudged, the parking brake takes about 5 seconds to release on ths truck. He went all in on trying to go and.... Roadside repair. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-551293 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straydog954 Posted May 8 Author Share Posted May 8 You don’t think it can be driven out after removing the other side ? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-551295 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 I reckon it be driven out But if you have cross locks ?? I remember a mate had axles out for some reason His son, maybe only 2 or 3 years of age put sockets in the axle housing to help his daddy Daddy shoved the axle and the sockets and all ended up im the middle 😄 Gotta love them kids Paul 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-551300 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey Mack Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 Well, hopefully no pieces got into the differential inside the bull gear. Good luck.. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-551304 Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeH Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 14 hours ago, Straydog954 said: You don’t think it can be driven out after removing the other side ? I'd expect there's enough room between the differential and the axle tubes that the bits of axle would fall into the oil, but it's been a very long time since I've had a differential out of one of these. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-551314 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey Mack Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 There is some space below the axle. The bull gear is very close to the bottom if the sump, and that thick oil can allow the bullgear to pick up chunks and bring them up to the spur shaft . Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-551317 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark T Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 I've never seen a clean break in there. Usually to some extent the axle shatters. Even if you do manage to get the broken piece out of the side gear and out the housing, your proud feeling of accomplishment fades fast when you hold it again the other part and realize lots of axle is missing. This is most often a case of the longest route actually being the shortest. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-551326 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 with both axles removed take two long broom handles or what ever round wooden poles available. TAKES GOOD TEAM WORK !! slowly push the wooden handles in from both sides same time. hoping piece is large enough one pushes on broken piece while other holds just enough tension against it . basically sandwich the broken piece between two handles. if successful , put broken piece in place against axle determine just how much is missing. I know proper method is removing carrier for flush/ inspect. when on side of road ; not best place to remove carrier. and when owner doesn't want to pay for wrecker. I know been there done that. challenge is that space ring gear/ spiders to axle housing. clean drain pan , remove drain plug chunks fall out disregard every thing above ; your screwed. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-551401 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey Mack Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 The old timer that taught me Mack stuff, showed me to clean the oarts with break clean, then use crazy glue to put the puzzle together. Then i was able to determine what was missing. Sometimes it helped to tell me where it came from.. Mech,, you remind me of him.. Earl Harnden... R.I.P. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-551403 Share on other sites More sharing options...
h67st Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 On 5/7/2024 at 3:48 PM, 70mackMB said: WTH! The one and only axle l ever broke (25yrs ago) was scored by the hub. Mechanic popped the hub and lassoed the shaft with a piece of wire. Dragged the bottom of the axle housing with half a large washer wielded on a small rod. Cleaned all the unauthorized pieces out and installed the new axle and l was on my way. Still have the damn axle in my garage as a reminder of what not to do again. I don't know if they still score their axles or not since l moved along also Joe. lol .....Hippy Unauthorized pieces...that's hilarious! Why did they score the axles? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-551404 Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeH Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 1 hour ago, h67st said: Unauthorized pieces...that's hilarious! Why did they score the axles? It creates a weak spot out by the hub, so they break there instead of breaking all the way in. A lot easier to replace an axle broken at the hub than deep inside. 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-551410 Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeH Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 You just score a ring around the axle shaft near the hub, and now if it breaks it's guaranteed to break where you scored it. If it breaks deep inside, you have to pull both axles if it's gonna get towed so you don't spin the differential around and pick chunks up and eat a rear. Just a lot cheaper and faster repair to have the break at the hub. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-551412 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 6 hours ago, JoeH said: You just score a ring around the axle shaft near the hub, and now if it breaks it's guaranteed to break where you scored it. If it breaks deep inside, you have to pull both axles if it's gonna get towed so you don't spin the differential around and pick chunks up and eat a rear. Just a lot cheaper and faster repair to have the break at the hub. another day of learning. can't recall anyone "scoring" axles. makes a lot of sense . never had a fleet/owner do the scoring process. since the number of broken axles is relatively small, is scoring asking for situations?? same as cutting glass= score the glass it breaks on the line. Father was the best at glass cutting=back on topic . Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-551432 Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeH Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 Scoring it you more or less guarantee it's going to break, unless your driver is smooth. But if you have a problematic driver like my brothers seemed to be you gotta do what you have to do... Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-551435 Share on other sites More sharing options...
topo Posted July 4 Share Posted July 4 I drove for a drilling contractor some time back moving his drilling rigs and equipment grooving the axles on all the heavy trucks with a bench grinder and when one would break it was simple to take off the end cap and make a loop out of wire push it down the axle with a stick then pull the loop tight wail pushing with the stick and the axle will come out clean out the chips and go back together with a new axle. Every truck carried a complete set of axles and one Peterbilt carried axles and drive lines. When the axle broke both times I was in reverse main box and deep under in the brownie (4 speed this was in soft mud with another truck pushing on the front. The first time I came as a surprise and the second time I felt it coming. Mack sure made a tough drive line never a problem there. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74131-broken-axle-shaft/#findComment-554684 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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